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After achieving six consecutive triumphs from six matches, an unbreached defense and a World Cup spot confirmed with matches remaining, national team coach Thomas Tuchel could suggest he has got all of his big qualifying decisions correct.

Yet, in the preparation for Thursday's domestic match against Serbia, he sparked a debate when he claimed that three of the nation's top talents - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the equivalent formation.

"Currently, if we keep the structure, they cannot play.

"They can but not with current tactics, not preserving harmony that we established and not in this formation that incorporates wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We currently utilize with a six, eight, a 10 and a nine."

From automatic picks to contested places

Foden and Bellingham have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but Tuchel's selections imply that the Manchester United forward and Bukayo Saka are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.

The question remains whether Bellingham, Foden and Kane coexist in the lineup?

Gareth Southgate evidently thought it possible.

Bellingham, Foden and Kane featured in every England's seven fixtures at the European Championship in Germany, where the national squad were defeated by Spain in the final.

In the 16 matches the three have featured together, England have won 10, shared points three times and suffered three losses, scoring 36 times and conceding 14.

Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions

Tuchel has employed a four-two-three-one setup that changes shape when England attack.

The young midfielder has been the key creative force because of his excellent dribbling, shooting ability and capacity to penetrate the area when the striker drops deep.

Tuchel has discussed favoring specialist wingers. The wide attackers regularly feature on the wings and can hold the ball well, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.

Behind this front four, Tuchel plays with a midfield two consisting of one defensively strict player and a partner with attacking liberty to support offensive play.

So how could Tuchel use these three players?

Foden and Bellingham would be competing with attacking alternatives for the creative hub, with Kane likely to start up front.

Foden could feature as the number nine, which potentially could permit both Bellingham and Foden to feature instead of Kane.

There is one way all three could coexist effectively and Tuchel hinted at it this week.

"At Manchester City, he functions as a box-to-box or creative role, so maybe during the next months we consider him as a box-to-box player," he said.

Foden has been used in a more all-purpose midfield role this season.

That has permitted him to contribute from midfield and could make him an option as the central midfielder, alongside a holding midfielder.

This would then allow Bellingham to play as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the nine.

Regardless of if Tuchel chooses to configure the team like this at the World Cup, what appears positive is his preparedness to omit established stars in the interest of team harmony.